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DLR Waves

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DLR Waves
Full nameDún Laoghaire–Rathdown Waves
Nickname(s)The Waves
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012)
GroundUCD Bowl
Capacity3,000 (1,500 seated)
ManagerLaura Heffernan
LeagueLeague of Ireland Women's Premier Division
202410th
Websitewww.dlrwaves.com/
Current season

Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Waves, also referred to as DLR Waves, is a women-only Irish association football club based in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. It was originally founded in 2012. DLR Waves field several teams; the senior League of Ireland team, the Under 19s LOI team and the Under 17s LOI team. The senior 1st team competes in the FAI Women's Cup and the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division. Between 2014 and 2018, the club played as UCD Waves, before returning to the name DLR Waves.

History

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DLR Waves 2012 - 2013

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The 2012–13 season saw DLR Waves join the Women's National League as an expansion team. The club was formed with the support of the Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council and they played their home games at Jackson Park, Kilternan. DLR Waves were managed by former UCD coach, Larry Mahony, and their squad featured former UCD captain Sylvia Gee.[1][2][3] Initially DLR Waves had mixed success in the WNL. During the 2012–13 season they finished fifth. They were also FAI Women's Cup semi-finalists.[4][5]

UCD Waves 2014 - 2018

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Between 2014 and 2018, following a merger, with UCD, the club played as UCD Waves under manager Eileen Gleeson. During this time, UCD Waves reached the FAI Women's Cup final twice, in 2014 and 2017, but lost to Raheny United and Cork City FC respectively. Furthermore, UCD Waves were runners up in the league, placed 2nd in the 2014–15 and 2016 WNL. In 2018, UCD AFC decided to withdraw from the women's league and the club ceased to be known as UCD Waves. DLR Waves was revived as a separate women's-only club using the original name, with DLR Waves replacing UCD in the Women's National League.[5][6]

DLR Waves 2019 - Present

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DLR Waves squad photo, April 2023

Since 2019, DLR Waves have played in the Women's National League at their home ground Jacksons Park initially, before returning to the UCD Bowl as their home ground in 2021. In recent years, DLR Waves have primarily been a mid-table team, finishing between 4th-6th in the league in the years 2019–2022. Mid-way through the 2023 season, long term manager Graham Kelly left the club for a role at St Patrick's Athletic and he was replaced by Laura Heffernan,[7] the only female manager in the 2023 women's premier division. DLR Waves finished the 2023 season in 8th position.

In October 2023, DLR Waves launched a player academy with local clubs to provide a pathway from grassroots girls soccer into the underage DLR Waves teams. There are eight local clubs involved in the DLR Waves Partner Academy, these are; Shankill FC Girls, Enniskerry Youth Club AFC, Beechwood FC, United Girls Football Club, Park Celtic FC, Granada FC, Mount Merrion Youths FC Girls and Lakelands FC.[8][9]

Honours

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Senior Team

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Under 19s Team

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  • League Title
    • Winners: 2022: 1

Players

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Current squad

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The current squad, as of the January 2024, includes:[10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Rugile Auskalnyte
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Nicole Keogh
3 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Chloe McCarthy
4 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Hannah Tobin Jones
5 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Jessica Gleeson (captain)
6 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Isobel Finnegan
7 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Mia Chambers
8 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Rebecca McMahon
9 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Nadine Seward
11 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Taylor White
12 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Bronagh Kane
13 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Neema Nyangasi
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Amber Cosgrove
15 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Ruth McDonnell
16 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Freya Roche
17 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Oleta Griffin
18 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Eve Badana
19 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Robyn Bolger
20 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Michelle Doonan
21 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Eve Conheady
10 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Eve O'Brien
23 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Cliodhna Donnelly
24 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Nadine Raymond
22 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Amy Ryan

Notable current or former players

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A large number of current or former Irish senior international football players have played for DLR Waves at some stage in their careers, as shown in the table below.

Player DLR Waves Years Current Club Senior Irish WNT Caps
Eve Badana 2019–Present DLR Waves 4
Dearbháile Beirne 2016-2018 Peamount 1
Jetta Berrill 2014-2017, 2019, 2021 Peamount 4
Karen Duggan 2014-2017 Peamount 35
Jess Gleeson 2021–Present DLR Waves 4
Dora Gorman 2014-2016 Peamount 16
Ciara Grant 2014-2016 Heart of Midlothian 18
Savannah McCarthy 2014-2015 Shamrock Rovers 11
Chloe Mustaki 2014-2016, 2017–2018 Bristol City Women 8
Áine O'Gorman 2014-2017 Shamrock Rovers 119
Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 2015-2016 Durham 0
Julie-Ann Russell 2014-2017 Galway United F.C. 59
Caroline Thorpe 2014-2016 Retired 24
Claire Walsh 2017 Glasgow City 4

Coaching staff

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Management team

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As of 2024, the manager of DLR Waves is Laura Heffernan,[11] the wider coaching team for the senior team and underage teams are listed in the table below.

Position Name
Head Manager Republic of Ireland Laura Heffernan
Assistant Manager Republic of Ireland Aoibh Hall
1st Team Coach Republic of Ireland Ronan Crean
Goalkeeping Coach Republic of Ireland Ian Fowler
Physio Republic of Ireland Kevin Quinn
Under-19 Coach Republic of Ireland Ronan Crean
Under-17 Coach Republic of Ireland Fiona Doyle

Former managers

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There have been five managers of DLR Waves since it was founded in 2012, as shown in the table below.

Seasons Manager Name
2012-2013 Larry Mahony [12]
2014-2017 Eileen Gleeson
2017-2018 Noel Kealy [13]
2019-2023 Graham Kelly [14]
2023–Present Laura Heffernan

Historic league standings

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The historic league standings from 2012 to 2023 are summarised in the table below.

Season Team Name League Position No. WNL Teams
2012-2013 DLR Waves 5th 7
2013-2014 DLR Waves 5th 8
2014-2015 UCD Waves 2nd 7
2015-2016 UCD Waves 3rd 8
2016 UCD Waves 2nd 7
2017 UCD Waves 4th 7
2018 UCD Waves 6th 8
2019 DLR Waves 6th 8
2020 DLR Waves 6th 9
2021 DLR Waves 4th 9
2022 DLR Waves 5th 10
2023 DLR Waves 8th 11

Supporters

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DLR Waves has a small unofficial supporters group, established in late 2022, which attend games and decorate the ground with the club colours. Similar to most League of Ireland supporters groups, the DLR Waves fans produce stickers to promote the club throughout Dublin. The DLR Waves Supporters Logo consists of the UCD Water Tower and two women footballers. The water tower is visible from the UCD Bowl. The Dublin derby game for DLR Waves fans and players is fixtures against Bohemians F.C.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Bus Eireann Women's National League 2012 launch". www.fai.ie. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  2. ^ "WNL Season Preview - DLR Waves". www.extratime.ie. 24 August 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Sylvia Gee picks up Player of the Month". wnl.fai.ie. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Ireland (Women) 2012/13 and 2013". RSSSF. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Waves break new ground". www.gazettegroup.com. 21 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  6. ^ "DLR Waves revived as UCD pull out of the Women's National League". www.extratime.ie. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Mid-season managerial change at DLR Waves as Laura Heffernan takes charge". 42.ie.
  8. ^ "DLR Waves Player Academy". DLR Waves Instagram Post. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Community Club Partners – DLR Waves". dlrwaves.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Senior Squad – DLR Waves". dlrwaves.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  11. ^ "About DLR Waves – DLR Waves". dlrwaves.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  12. ^ Hurley, Denis (29 April 2013). "Ref walks off after being ignored". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Noel Kealy | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic celebrates fifth FAI Cup win". 21 November 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Fan Group – DLR Waves". dlrwaves.com. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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